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Top Stories: Australian Social Entrepreneurs of 2016

Throughout the year, we try our best to keep a running list of exceptional stories about Australian social enterprises. Here we attempt to wrap up 2016 with some of the year’s most worthy headlines. Skim them again or read for the first time for some social change inspiration. A big thank you to all those brave individuals who are committed to working on innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. We can’t wait to see what happens in 2017.

Obviously we couldn’t read everything and there will no doubt be stories that we missed. If you read about an Australian social entrepreneur kicking butt in 2016, please add your suggestions (along with the URL to the original article) in the comments section.

Marking a significant departure from their usual clientele (Google, Apple, Nike and Sephora and Vogue Japan to name a few) international design duo Craig & Karl have teamed up with social enterprise Who Gives a Crap to design a series of limited edition toilet paper wrappers.

Inspired by her volunteer work with a pioneering social enterprise in Vietnam, Rebecca Scott has become one of Australia’s most innovative and successful social entrepreneurs, building STREAT from an idea to provide hospitality training and employment for young people into a sustainable and profitable food service business.

On King Street there’s a kitchen full of refugees and asylum seekers getting experience and training. But they aren’t there only to receive help themselves. They’re making fresh, home-cooked food for people in Sydney who are homeless.

A social enterprise founded by Access Community Services in Brisbane, The Spice Exchange, helps refugee and migrant women gain employment through cooking, creating spice blends and making gingerbread using knowledge and recipes from their home countries.

To many, a cafe latte or shot of espresso is just a good way to kick-start the day. To the at-risk youth who are trained and employed at non-profit cafes such as Melbourne’s STREAT, it’s a new shot at life. If you want to drink coffee for a good cause, you can, thanks to Melbourne’s stellar social enterprise cafes.

Nipuni Wijewickrema, 22, co-manages a Canberra florist designed to give people with special needs employment opportunities. The idea was conceived with her 16-year-old sister Gayana, who has Down syndrome, in mind.

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Top Stories: Australian Social Entrepreneurs of 2016

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The 3rd annual Nexus Australia Youth Summit convened March 6 – 8, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. The Summit brought together young philanthropists, impact investors, social entrepreneurs and allies – including family business members, successful entrepreneurs, and inspiring social change leaders. They discussed the challenges facing the world today and innovative solutions to them.

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There is no doubt the incredible impact that technology and new media is having on social good initiatives around the world. But what exactly is “social good”? Is it making a donation to charity? Is it a random act of kindness? Is it volunteering? Is it advocating for a worthy cause? Is it Liking a post on Facebook?